Judgement Days

[Scaredofthedirt]

I jumped at the chance of an extended test ride on a new Victory Judge.

I didn’t really give the gang at Victory Motorcycles in Elizabeth Street Melbourne the chance to open the store Saturday morning before I was knocking on the door. Man, what a showroom!




I swapped the keys to my Mighty Triumph Scrambler for an orange one.



I did pretty well avoiding the morning traffic on the ride out to the Yarra Valley.



A little off road through the Black Spur.





Back on the bitumen towards Narbethong.







It sure was different to the Mighty Scrambler trying to punt the Judge along the back roads into Alexandra .

I met up with Miss KT and Tyson the BMW packmule at the Giddy Goat in Yarck.

Now I was going to make a joke that these were the only bikes I overtook all weekend, but then I encountered the Ducati riders on some flowing corners…



A little out of Tatong, we entered echidna alley. They were out in plague proportions. I stopped to give this little fella a pat.



We stopped at a favourite café for late lunch.



After lunch, the locals went all out to give me the rockstar Victory experience. I was given a private invitation to a roadside event by a man called Officer. Man, what a party…there was whoop-whoop sirens and blinking and flashing lights.
I had to smile at the irony. The first time I am caught speeding on a motorcycle in 15 years and it happens when I am on a cruiser…




The promised showers finally arrived.







Sunday morning, the Judge parked next to a buddies Tiger.



After breakfast, the local riders departed for their annual toy run.





A relaxed ride to Whitfield before the ride up the hill to Mansfield.



The Judge’s paintwork came alive!



The people you meet when you are out and about…hey CrustyVarmit!



No, no of course Crusty I won’t tell anyone you sat on a Victory…



Well, only 23 nights until I find out if I have been naughty or nice…



Trip distance: 730km

[Dee Cee]

So what did you think of the Victory. I am keen on a relaxed riding style for taking the missus as the kids are getting older and we will be able to do some riding together as we did for years before the youngens came along. Had a Guzzi Cali for years and the missus really liked the pillion postion on it and I feel that my Kato 990 is a little on the aggresive side for an older female passenger who is well and trully over sticking to a riders back like superglue so as to feel relaxed on the back.

I too would like to take one for an extended test ride as well.

Its a smart looking thing.

[Scaredofthedirt]

Hi Dee Cee,

I really wanted to like the Judge. Man, to me it looks so cool and the engine is a beast.

Unfortunately, though I came to the conclusion that my wants / uses of a bike are better suited to the Scrambler.

In all fairness to Mr Victory, I don't think they ever intended the Judge to be a goat track and gravel road blaster

[Domromer]

I'm not much for cruisers but man that is a good looking bike!

[Phil_Fong]

Great RR and it would of been hard to pass on a ride like that for the weekend

very nice bike indeed.